Church of Tsromi

The Church of Tsromi sits at the heart of its village along the Mtkvari River, built with a cross shape and four independent pillars that rise to support the central dome. Natural light streams inside through high windows set into the dome and along each arm of the cross.

This church was built between 626 and 634 during the reign of Stephen II of Iberia, marking an early phase of religious architecture in the region. After the 1940 earthquake damaged it, the structure received reinforcement to secure its stability.

The eastern wall displays two deep triangular niches that frame the sacred space, while the altar once held mosaic artwork showing Christ surrounded by apostles, now kept in Tbilisi's Museum of Art.

The interior is well-lit by natural light through those high windows, so visiting on sunny days lets you see the details most clearly. The church sits in a small village setting, so plan for a quiet visit without much surrounding activity.

This was the first Georgian religious building to use four independent pillars supporting the central dome, representing an architectural innovation of its time. This structural system later became a model that influenced other church constructions across Georgia.

Location: Khashuri Municipality

GPS coordinates: 41.99346,43.73659

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:02